Horseshoe Crab

Limulus polyphemus

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Horseshoe Crab

Size: 1-2 inches

$22.99

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Care Facts

Care Level :	Easy
Temperament :	Peaceful
Diet :	Meaty
Origin :	Western Atlantic
Minimum Tank Size :	~
Acclimation Time :	1+ Hours
Reef Safe :	Yes
Coral Safe :	Yes
Invertebrate Safe :	Yes
Lighting :	~
Placement :	~
Waterflow :	~

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More Details

The Horseshoe Crab, Limulus polyphemus, is often called a living fossil as it is one of the world's oldest surviving organisms. It actually isn't a crab but more closely related to terrestrial scorpions and spiders. Its body is comprised of three main parts: the prosoma - its head region, the opisthosoma - its abdominal region, and the telson - its spine-like tail. It also has five pairs of jointed legs and a pair of pincers. Like some other inverts, it will occasionally molt is exoskeleton.

It is a hard-shelled organism that is usually found in warm, shallow waters living along the sea floor. Its long tail helps it steer as it swims and right itself when upended onto its back. In the home aquarium it is best to keep the Horseshoe Crab in a tank with a deep sand bed as they like to burrow and search for food. This makes them great sand aerators. They are effective scavengers that will feed on worms, algae, and other meaty organisms found in the sediment. At is small size, the Horseshoe Crab is reef safe but may become more aggressive as it get larger. They are a unique addition to any tank and actually thrive in the home aquarium under proper conditions.

Horseshoe Crabs are a neat addition to any tank. Not only are these dinosaurs cool to look at, they also do a great job of keeping your sand filtered and clean. While it's unfortunate that they don't come out very often when the lights are on, they can be seen from time to time when the lights are off.

Reviewed by: Phillip A Thrasher Jr on 04/26/2015

These little guy is great. You don't see him very much.But he keeps the sand bed very clean the tank.

Reviewed by: Raymond Schrefel on 09/17/2017

Horseshoe crabs are my favorite animal and awsome animals too!, but I have one slight complaint, horseshoe crabs are more closely related to spiders and scorpions than crabs, so I think you should put them under the category miscellaneous. Overall a amazing animal and keep on selling them because I want to buy more of these prehistoric living fossils!

Reviewed by: Ashton on 02/12/2018